Wire-stretcher and reel-carrier



(No Model.)

A A. L. PRUITT.

WIRE STRETGHER AND REEL CARRIER.

No. 570,817. Patented NOV. 3, 1896.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREWv L. PRUITT, OFTHICO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JVAMS MERIWETHER, OF PEARSALL, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCH ER AN D REEL-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,817', dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed .Tune 8, 1894. Renewed September l, 1896. Serial No. 604,585. (No model.)

To a/Z whom it 71mg/ concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. PRUITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Iico, in the county of Hamilton and State of Texas,

have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher and Reel-Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers and reel-carriers.

ro The object of the present invention is to provide a wire-stretcher and reel-carrier which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, adapted to enable fence-wire to be readily unwound from spools and distributed for fence-building, and capable of readily stretching the wire to the desired tension.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated zo in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Invthe drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wirestretcher and reel-carrier constructed in accordance with this invention.

2 5 Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the rectangular sockets of the axle. Fig. 4. is a sectional view of one of the end spools.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a drop-axle secured to a beam 2 and having extended journals 3, on which are arranged carrying-wheels 4.. The axle is 3 5 supported by rearwardly and downwardly inclined braces 5, and the latter are secured at their upper ends to the beam and at their lower ends to washers 6, arranged on the spindles of the axle at the inner sides or faces of the carrying-wheels. 'Washers 7, which are keyed to the spindles, are located at the outer faces of the carrying-wheels, and on the extended portions of the journals are located wire-spools 8, from which wire for fence-b uilding is unwound and distributed as the machine moves forward. The spools at the ends of the axle are detachably mounted thereon by nuts 9, arranged on the threaded extremities of the spindle and provided with clamping-screws 10 to prevent them from accidentally unscrewing.

The depending portions of the axle are provided with sockets 1l, which are rectangular or of any other desired polygonal shape, and arranged therein are the ends of a transverse 5 5 shaft or spindle 12, which carries an intermediate spool 13, and which has its ends shaped to conform to the coniignration of the sockets of the depending side portions of the axle. The shaft or spindle 12 is provided at one side 6o of the central or intermediate spool with an annular shoulder or washer 14, and at the other end of this spool is located a removable washer 15, provided with a clamping-screw 16. By means of the central and end spools three strands or separate wires may be simultaneously unwound and distributed, and it will be apparent that as soon as a spool is emptied it may be readily removed and a fresh vone may be quickly placed on the car- 7o rier. l

The wire is stretched by means of a windlass-chain 17, provided at one end with apiny 18 and extending forward around the pulley 19 and having its other end wound around a 75 windlass-shaft 20, j ournaled in suitable bearings rat the rear end of the beam and provided at one end with a cranlcliandle. The windlass-shaft carries a pair of ratchet-wheels 2l, which are engaged by a double pivoted 8o pawl 22, composed of two similar sides and a lower transverse connecting portion which is hingedly attached to the beam. The beam is provided at its rear end with a socket 23 to receive the pin when the draft or windlass chain :is not in use, and in order to prevent the beam from'having its front portion swung upward by the stretching of a wire a brace 24 is hinged at its upper end to the rear end of the beam. 9o

The brace 24., which is preferably connected by a strap-hinge to the beam, is adapted to engage the ground and support the rear end of the beam, to prevent the said rear end from swingingdownward.

The carrier is prevented from moving rear ward when stretchingawire byapair of props or braces 25, having lower pointed ends 26, and provided at their upper ends with bearings 27 to receive the top portion of the axle, roo

whereby they are hingedly connected thereto. In removing the central spool the braces or props may be readily swung upward out of the way. TheY pulley 19 is supported by a rectangular bracket-iron 28, which is secured to the beam in advance of the pulley.

It will be seen that the combined wirestretcher and reel-carrier is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is capable of distributing fence-wires rapidly, and that it is adapted to stretch the wires to the desired tension without liability of moving the carrier backward or swinging the front end of the beam upward.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this in.

vention.

That I claim is- I. In a reel-carrier, the combination of a drop-axle having extended spindles, carrying-wheels, end spools removably arranged on the spindles and located at the outer sides of the Wheels, a shaft located between the wheels and extending across the bend of the drop-axle, and a central spool carried by the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a reel-carrier, the combination of a drop-axle having extended spindles and provided at opposite sides of its bend with sockets, a transverse shaft removably tted in the sockets, and spools mounted on the spindle and the shaft, substantially as described:

3. In a reel-carrier and Wire-stretcher, the combination of a drop-axle, carrying-Wheels,

a beam secured to the axle and extending in rear thereof, a wire-stretcher mounted on the beam, and a brace hingedly connected with the beam to prevent the front end of the latter from swinging upward, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a Wire-stretcher and reel-carrier, the combination of an axle, wheels, a beam secured to the axle and provided with a socket, a Windlass-shaft journaled on the beam, a pulley mounted on the beam and arranged in advance of the windlass-shaft, and a windlass-chain connected with the shaft extending around the pulley and provided with a pin adapted to fit the said socket, substantially as described'.

5. In a wire-stretcher and reel-carrier, the combination of a drop-axle having extended spindles, carrying-wheels, end spools arranged on the spindles and located at the outer sides of the carrying-wheels, a transverse shaft extending across the bend of the drop-axle, a central spool arranged on the shaft, a beam secured to the shaft and extendingin rear thereof, means for stretching a wire mounted on the beam, and hinged braces secured to the axle and to the beam, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ANDREW L. PRUITT.

Vitnesses:

J No. A. EAKINs, J. Il. BLACKBURN. 

